Catalonia in the North East of Spain is due to have a referendum on independence on Sunday. The Spanish government and Spain's Constitutional Court have declared the vote illegal and seem to be doing their utmost to prevent the referendum from going ahead. Websites have been shut down, computers, leaflets etc have been seized and 4000 police have been drafted in from other parts of Spain to shut down polling centres.
Can you imagine if the UK government had sent 4000 English, Welsh and NIrish police into Scotland to shut down the referendum there?
The Catalonian government have promised that they will declare independence from Spain within 48 hours if the people vote for independence! Sound familiar?
It's an interesting situation with possible dire consquences given the Spanish governments apparent heavy handedness.
I'm sure that our Spanish Correspondent will provide an insight and correct anything I've got wrong!